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Showing posts from August, 2007
Leedsunited.com 26/8/07 PROUD OF YOU United boss Dennis Wise hailed the character shown by his players after Saturday's 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest. A 90th minute winner from Jermaine Beckford secured the points as gallant United made it three straight League One wins. Tresor Kandol had opened the scoring in the first half, but Forest levelled early in the second period. The victory reduces the points defecit to minus six and, in beating the pre-season title favourites, Wise's men fired a huge warning shot to the other clubs in League One. "I was very proud of the lads," said the boss. "We did okay in the first half, but we didn't really perform in the second. We had a go, though, and it paid off. All the lads dug in deep and I'm chuffed to bits for Becks and Tres. Things went for us a bit - the fans were brilliant again as well – and we've got to keep doing what we're doing." United would be sitting pretty at the top of the table were it no
Leedsunited.com 25/8/07 GET THE MESSAGE! NOTTS FOREST 1 (Commons 50), LEEDS UNITED 2 (Kandol 17, Beckford 90) United arrived at the City Ground looking to reduce the points defecit further after two straight wins to open the campaign. One of only three sides with a 100 per cent start in League One, Dennis Wise's started the afternoon on minus nine points. Jamie Clapham was handed his debut at left-back, in place of the injured Andrew Hughes, while Seb Carole made his first league start of the season in place of injury victim Ian Westlake. As predicted the City Ground was packed to near capacity and the fans were treated to a lively opening. Forest had a couple of early opportunities - one falling to Kris Commons - but both Matt Heath and Casper Ankergren were on hand to avert any danger. And after soaking up some early pressure, United hit Forest on the counter and Tresor Kandol converted coolly to make it 1-0. Strike partner Jermaine Beckford was the architect with a delightful pa
Yorkshire Evening Post 22/8/07 Ridsdale's Leeds United book profits go to charity By Paul Robinson FORMER Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale is donating all the money he makes from his controversial new book to charity. Ridsdale's decision to tell the story of his turbulent six-year reign at Elland Road has sparked accusations from fans that he is cashing in on United's disastrous decline. The YEP understands, however, that every penny the ex-Leeds chief receives in royalties or upfront payments from the book is going to St Gemma's Hospice in Moortown.The sum handed over to the hospice is likely to run into tens of thousands of pounds. A source close to Ridsdale said: "Peter thinks he's got every right to give his side of the story. He hasn't in full detail until now. But he also recognises that a lot of Leeds fans might take the view that he shouldn't profit from the club's demise. By making this donation to the hospice, he hopes the supporters m
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Yorkshire Evening Post 20/8/07 Flo: I thought I was finished at Leeds United By Phil Hay TORE ANDRE FLO re-ignited his Leeds United career with a priceless goal against Southend United on Saturday – and then revealed how a fractured foot had threatened to force his retirement. Flo struck for the first time in seven months as Leeds routed Southend 4-1, bringing to an end the injury problems which have plagued his troubled spell at Elland Road. The Norwegian's short-term contract with Leeds last season was ruined by a foot injury sustained in January – just three weeks after he first agreed to join United – and doubts over his fitness prevented him from making a single pre-season appearance this summer. Flo was initially sidelined by a fractured foot, but the 33-year-old revealed that a second break towards the end of last term had delayed his comeback further – and left him questioning whether he would ever make a full recovery. Flo said: "For a while during that period I was t
Leedsunited.com 14/8/07 WESTY'S WINNER MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0, UNITED 1 (Westlake 79) Macclesfield: Lee, Edghill, Regan, Dimech, Green, Husbands (Evans 11), Thomas (Wiles 88), Reid, McIntyre, Murray, Dunfield. Subs: Swailes, Jennings, Brain. United: Ankergren, Gardner, Heath, Parker, Lewis, Prutton (Weston 90), Douglas, Howson, Carole (Westlake 46), Elliott (Beckford 46), Kandol. Subs: Marques, Delph. Referee: A M Penn Booked: Elliott Att: 3422 Dennis Wise made seven changes from the side which kicked off the League One campaign with a 2-1 win at Tranmere last weekend. The boss made full use of his resources and included four teenagers in the starting line-up for the club's first ever meet with Macclesfield Town. One of those teenagers - Jonny Howson - was involved when United collected the first corner of the game after his crunching tackle won the ball and Tresor Kandol forced a corner. Macclesfield dealt with the set-piece, but United immediately won another when Kandol had a h
Telegraph 13/8/07 Leeds fighting spirit would please Revie By David McVay Tranmere (1) 1 Leeds (0) 2 It is amazing how tetchily Leeds United folk have reacted to accusations that they have been bending the rules. Given previous form, neutrals might have thought any slight on the club's reputation should have been water off a duck's back. On his first of 44 days in charge at Elland Road in 1974, Brian Clough demanded that the reigning English champions consign their medals to the dustbin because they were a bunch of 'cheats'. Even one of their own, Welsh goalkeeper Gary Sprake, confirmed as much, claiming he had acted as 'bag man' to bribe opponents during the Don Revie era, an allegation supported by Danny Hegan, the Wolves midfielder whose side famously denied Leeds the Double 35 years ago. In the context of such malpractice, failure to conform to insolvency policy may seem a trifling matter, but then when the protagonist happens to be Leeds chairman Ken Bates,
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Sunday Times 12/8/07 Leeds luck takes turn for the better Tranmere 1 Leeds United 2 Ian Winrow at Prenton Park A SUMMER of fraught brinkmanship was consigned to history as Tresor Kandol's late winner gave Dennis Wise and his Leeds United players the first, tentative, sign that fortune may finally be turning their way as they attempt to negotiate their first ever season in League One weighed down by the 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League. The punishment — levied because of the club's breach of insolvency rules last season — meant that Leeds went into the game knowing that they will remain rooted at the foot of the third tier until at least September. Kandol's goal, though, scored in the last minute of normal time, offered hope and the euphoric reaction from supporters and players at the final whistle articulated perfectly the tensions that have built up around Elland Road in the last few months. "We enjoyed that," admitted Wise, with more than a hint o
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Independent 12/8/07 Tranmere Rovers 1 Leeds Utd 2: Kandol lights up as Leeds flicker at last By Ian Winrow at Prenton Park Published: 12 August 2007 As reality checks go, this could have been a lot harsher. With once regular visits to the San Siro and Rome Olympic Stadium now replaced with a tricky opening day trip to Tranmere's Prenton Park, Dennis Wise's side successfully negotiated their first experience of life in League One thanks to Tresor Kandol's late headed winner that offered hope that Leeds United may have finally already reached rock-bottom. Starting life in the third tier weighed down by the 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League for a breach of insolvency rules following the club's disastrous financial implosion at the end of last season, Kandol's goal ensured a summer of anxiety and frustration gave way a rare moment of euphoria, pricking the tension that has grown up around the fallen Yorkshire club. "We enjoyed that," admitted Wis
Leedsunited.com 11/8/07 THREE POINTS PROVED TRANMERE 1 (Greenacre 21), UNITED 2 (Heath 55, Kandol 89) Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison, Sherriff, Shuker (Curran 83), Jennings, McClaren, Davies, Zola, Greenacre (Taylor 81). Subs: Tremarco, Kay, Achterberg. United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Lewis, Weston (Flo 76), Hughes, Thompson, Westlake, Kandol, Beckford (Howson 90). Subs: Carole, Parker, Elliott. Booked: Stockdale, Chorley, Goodison (Tranmere), Kandol, Beckford, Thompson, Westlake. Att: 11,008 (2,004 Leeds) With the off-field drama firmly out of the way United finally opened up the League One season looking to make up a 15-point deficit following the Football League's decision to impose a sanction on the club, following the administration procedure. Dennis Wise was able to make some late moves in the transfer market and he handed debuts to Curtis Weston and Andrew Hughes, while Casper Ankergren, signed in the week, and new skipper Alan Thompson also ret
Yorkshire Evening Post 10/8/07 Fighting talk: Leeds United manager urges unity Dennis Wise today urged every faction of Leeds United to unite behind his banner after promising to wage war on the "laughable" 15-point penalty forced upon the club by the Football League. Wise called for an immediate end to the in-fighting which has plagued Elland Road this summer after Leeds' appeal against their crippling punishment was rejected by the other 71 Football League clubs. United's attempt to overturn the unprecedented deduction – imposed for a breach of the League's insolvency rules through chairman Ken Bates' re-purchase of Leeds – was dismissed by a large majority of clubs during a meeting in London yesterday, but an infuriated Wise directed unveiled criticism at the League's members and questioned their motives for opposing the appeal. The decision to uphold the punishment has given United's forthcoming season, which begins against Tranmere Rovers at Prent
Leedsunited.com 7/8/07 JOY OF SIX Six more players have agreed contracts on a busy day for United manager Dennis Wise. Dave Prutton and Rui Marques became the latest senior players to pen deals with the club on Tuesday. Rui has signed an initial one-year deal after returning to the club for pre-season training while former Nottingham Forest and Southampton midfielder Dave has also put pen to paper. The 25-year-old Dave joined the club on a trial basis in July after leaving Southampton and has made over 300 senior appearances. In addition, four of the young players have agreed to new one-year deals, taking the tally to 10 new signed contracts since Monday evening. Tomi Ameobi, Scott Gardner, Ben Parker and Gavin Rothery are the young players who have signed. Scott and Ben have featured regularly in pre-season with the senior squad while both Tomi and Gavin were on duty against Guiseley on Monday night. Matt Heath, Curtis Weston, Leon Constantine and Casper Ankergren are the other player